Chapter 52
Chapter 52
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 52
Chapter Title: Freedom Comes with Responsibility. (2)
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Unlike the recent darkening mood,
the academy was quite festive today.
The reason was...
"Hahaha! Jenny Harkur! That student saved the endangered Hasler?"
"As expected of our Hero Academy's student."
It was because Jenny Harkur had shone brilliantly during the Troll Lord's invasion.
"Hmph, as I thought, there's nothing wrong with Hero Academy. If it had the problems those outsiders claim, a student like Jenny wouldn't have emerged!"
"That's right, that's right! The teachers at Hero Academy are the finest talents among heroes and champions!"
Of course, they didn't think it was Jenny's or Kane's—mentioned only briefly in the article—achievement.
Naturally, they believed it was all thanks to the academy that had nurtured her.
"But it's a shame. Trolls, of all things. It would've been better if she'd repelled an upper demon! Hahaha!"
"Well, the best they could do was trolls... but it's still getting big coverage, and people love it."
Even so, they spoke recklessly, as if it weren't their concern.
"Isn't that right, Principal?"
"......"
"Principal?"
Strangely, Parus Remnant, who would normally be the most delighted, was silent.
He even seemed deeply troubled or dissatisfied, furrowing his brow.
"Jenny Harkur..."
Surprisingly, the reason was Jenny herself—the very one brightening the academy teachers' mood.
'She quit being a hero...?'
It was because he'd received contact from Duke Aihan, director of the Hero Management Bureau.
'This damn... How the hell do they teach students at the academy these days?! Does it make sense for a fresh hero who's just started to throw a tantrum and quit after two months?!'
Director Aihan looked utterly furious, his rage boiling over.
According to him, Jenny Harkur had declared heroes hopeless, smashed up his office, and even threatened to kill him.
'That's not like her at all.'
But Principal Parus couldn't help tilting his head at the disconnect from the Jenny Harkur he knew.
She had tremendous talent and matching skill, but at her core, she was incredibly kind and gentle.
She got along well enough with her peers.
And she was always polite to the teachers.
She did react strongly if anyone badmouthed Kane, with whom she shared some connection.
But not to the point of smashing furniture or threatening murder.
One of two things.
Either she did quit, but Director Aihan was exaggerating,
or something had happened, changing Jenny Harkur's state of mind.
'...The latter seems more likely.'
He couldn't imagine the great Director Aihan—a duke and head of the Hero Management Bureau—lying to frame one student like Jenny Harkur.
That meant something major had shifted in her heart.
"Hasler, Hasler."
If there was a trigger, it was there.
Up until then, she'd been dutifully carrying out her hero duties without issue.
"What's wrong? Is there something about Hasler?"
"Oh, it's nothing."
One of the teachers asked the principal, lost in thought, and Parus shook his head in reply.
Even in a staff meeting, he chided himself for getting too absorbed in his own musings.
But it was something he needed to investigate.
Jenny Harkur was an outstanding hero—one of the nation's most vital human resources.
He couldn't let her slip away so pointlessly.
It wouldn't be good for the empire, let alone Hero Academy.
Think about it.
If a hero suddenly quit and left, who would people blame?
The hero?
No, heroes were unstoppable powerhouses; no one could fault them.
The Hero Management Bureau?
No, they'd look higher up the chain.
Yes, the academy—already suffering image problems and taking flak lately.
An easy target.
'We can't let Hero Academy be disgraced.'
As those thoughts swirled, an unexpected solution emerged.
"Speaking of Hasler, that commoner teacher, Kane? Was it? I heard he's doing adventurer training there."
"What? Adventurer training? Kkehahaha! A fittingly lowly job for such a pathetic wretch."
One of the teachers mentioned Kane was in Hasler.
'Adventurer training... Kane... Hasler...'
In that moment, the puzzle pieces clicked in Principal Parus's mind.
'Of course. Miss Jenny has always thought highly of Kane. He was a servant in her household, after all.'
She must have met Kane in Hasler.
He said something to her, sparking a change in her heart—leading to her violent, barbaric resignation as a hero!
"So that's it."
"Pardon? What's that?"
"Principal?"
Principal Parus shot to his feet and stormed out of the meeting room.
As if oblivious to the teachers' confusion at his abrupt exit.
"Kane, you bastard... I had a bad feeling, and now you've gone and caused trouble!"
Parus ground his teeth, recalling the unease he'd felt when Kane left.
Why had he felt anxious then?
He must have subconsciously known the man would stir up an incident.
"But if I deal with him, Jenny Harkur won't stay quiet..."
As he'd said, Jenny valued Kane dearly.
Even if just a servant, harming her person would surely enrage her.
That fury mustn't turn toward the academy or empire.
She'd become a subjugation target, losing an exceptional talent—and the manpower to take her down would be immense.
'I'll have to persuade him with words. But how...'
As he pondered,
"Father? Did you just say Jenny Harkur..."
It was his son, Mercen Remnant—widely known as the 'Hero of Light'.
He'd been invited as a special lecturer recently and was still at the academy.
"Mercen? Is that you, Mercen."
For some reason, his eyes gleamed madly at the mention of Jenny Harkur's name.
But that wasn't Principal Parus's concern now.
'Yes, Mercen is a hero with light mana—an outstanding figure. As my son, he might persuade Jenny.'
And if his son brought her back,
Director Aihan would be thrilled.
The academy's tarnished reputation would recover.
"Mercen. The truth is, Miss Jenny..."
With that thought, Principal Parus explained how Jenny had quit as a hero and gone to Hasler.
"No way! Lady Jenny... the goddess...?"
"G-Goddess...? Well, whatever. Yes. Can you go persuade her to return as a hero?"
At the principal's words, Mercen nodded vigorously.
"Understood. I'll bring her back, no matter what."
His resolute vow resembled a soldier heading to battle with his life on the line.
'...Was he always this intense?'
Principal Parus felt oddly uneasy at his son's overflowing zeal,
but trusted his own flesh and blood to handle it well.
#
"Instructor Kane, have some water first."
"Ah, yes. Thank you."
It had been five days since Miss Rin arrived here.
Two more days after she told me everything that day.
Since then, Miss Rin's attitude had done a complete 180.
The girl who'd just trailed after me like a shadow was now proactively trying to help.
Fetching water, finding tasks on her own.
But... everything was clumsy.
Her physical abilities let her carry things fine, but she'd put them in the wrong spot,
drop samples prepared for research,
or... like now, spill water while trying to hand it to me.
"S-Sorry...!"
She looked like a cool, aloof princess on the outside.
But her actions were all mishaps.
What was this gap moe?
Yeah, honestly,
it's better if she doesn't help.
Well, a princess and hero probably never did anything but fight, so expecting help was unreasonable.
"No, haha, it was hot anyway. This cools me off nicely."
Thinking that way, I wasn't even annoyed.
I just wanted her to sit quietly and rest.
"Miss Rin, why don't you rest over there."
"Ah, yes..."
At my words, she pouted like a puppy robbed of a snack and shuffled away.
"Haha! She wants to help—let her, Instructor Kane."
Then Captain Hans approached, laughing heartily.
...This guy.
Saw her spill water on me and still says that?
"Still, as you said, Instructor Kane, she doesn't seem like the personality wreck from the article."
"Right?"
With Miss Rin's permission, I'd told the investigation team about her.
What she'd been through, and how she seemed different from the article's portrayal.
At first, the soldiers, knights including Captain Hans, and researchers hid their shock at her being a princess, hero, and demon-possessed entity.
But as the story unfolded, anger toward the academy grew, along with sympathy for Miss Rin.
'Well, since Instructor Kane says so, I'll believe it.'
A stranger, painted as a trash personality wrecker who'd even triggered a demon possession incident.
Yet they trusted my word alone.
...Their faith is so thick it's scary.
Two days like that.
Before long, she'd blended naturally into the place.
"Rin... ma'am? Could you hold this for a sec?"
People confused at first how to address her now called her by name casually,
and made requests without hesitation.
The reason was...
"...Hmph, fine, I'll do it this once."
Maybe because she was once a princess and hero, but her cute act of pretending reluctance yet helping anyway.
"Heh. Even then, she doesn't play hard to get with you, Instructor Kane—she sticks right to you. Wild cat with everyone else, total puppy with you."
Captain Hans chuckled.
...Yeah, I'm aware.
Since I was the first to help her in despair, it's like baby bird imprinting—seeing me as her savior.
Not a bad feeling.
Reminds me of Miss Jenny back when she was a student.
As I thought that,
"...! Something's coming."
Miss Rin suddenly tensed, staring in one direction.
What? Another troll?
No, she wouldn't tense that much for a troll.
In fact, over these five days, trolls had appeared near base camp twice.
She barely reacted then.
She could handle one or two trolls without issue.
Meaning whatever approached now was far stronger than trolls at least.
The soldiers noticed too, tensing and readying toward her gaze.
And moments later, from there.
Pababat—
"Is Instructor Kane here?!"
Someone arrived at tremendous speed, urgently calling my name.
Jet-black leather armor clinging to their body.
That person... Veronica?